Shoulders of patients with spinal cord injuries submitted to rehabilitation program - A clinical and ultrasound-based assessment

Abstract

The increasing incidence of high energy traumas is associated to a growing prevalence of spinal cord injuries causing motor sequels on limbs. Rehabilitation programs provide an opportunity for improvement of quality of life, helping on integrating those individuals back into social activities. Shoulder pain is more frequent in individuals with spinal cord injury, regardless of the rehabilitation program adopted. In the current study, 32 shoulders of 16 patients with spinal cord injury levels between C4 and T12 submitted to a rehabilitation program at DOT/UNICAMP were evaluated by using ultrasound. Changes on rotator cuff tendons were detected in 56.25%, and 12.50% of the patients presented changes in humeral tuberosities. These changes were more prevalent in quadriplegic patients. Analgesic therapies, rotator cuff muscles' strengthening whenever possible, and postural rehabilitation may provide shoulder pain reduction, enhancing the advantages of rehabilitation programs and providing a better quality of life.